Criticizing Obama's Subdued Stance on Iran Is Self-Indulgent and Silly

By John Aloysius Farrell, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

It is stunning to me that, with an event of such potential importance as the Iranian election, critics who know nothing about what's going on in Tehran are so quick to criticize President Obama for being insufficiently vocal in his support for the protesters.

That kind of critique seems sentimental and self-indulgent.

Sure, it might make us feel good. But would it have helped the marchers?

Americans like to think that everybody loves us. But if we have forgotten, the Iranians have not: Iran is the nation where the US of A overthrew the last real democratic government and installed a despotic shah, and where generations of Iranians have suffered since.

Do we see any protesters carrying American flags? Or building statues of Lady Liberty?

Obama needs to do what will help. And vocal cheerleading may not be it.

Conservative columnist George F. Will avoided the easy impulse on ABC on Sunday.

"The president is being roundly criticized for insufficient, rhetorical support for what's going on over there. It seems to me foolish criticism," Will said. "The people on the streets know full well what the American attitude toward the regime is. And they don't need that reinforced."

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